Three men arrested in sexual assault case

ELIZABETH – Three Elizabeth men were arrested on unspecified charges related to the sexual assault of a related minor on Tuesday, officials said.

West Virginia State Police are still conducting the investigation which led to the Tuesday morning arrests of Randy L. Hammer, 61, Thomas R. Hammer, 23, and Paul R. Hammer, 25, of 8793 Munday Road in Elizabeth, according to a press release by the State Police.

Trooper M.B. Jarvis of the Wirt County State Police Detachment began an investigation involving the 15-year-old daughter of Randy Hammer, the press release said.

The daughter’s name is being withheld due to her status as a minor, officials said.

Randy Hammer and his sons Thomas Hammer and Paul Hammer allegedly have been sexually assaulting the 15-year-old repeatedly over the course of several years, the press release said.

Randy Hammer failed to make his $160,000 bond and is being held on eight unspecified charges at the North Central Regional Jail as of Thursday afternoon.

Thomas Hammer and Paul Hammer failed to make their $75,000 bond and are being held on three unspecified charges each at the North Central Regional Jail as of Thursday afternoon.

Jarvis obtained felony warrants for the three suspects during his investigation, the press release said.

Randy Hammer allegedly claims to be a sovereign citizen, a movement claiming its members are not bound to follow statutory laws, and is known to have firearms on his property, the press release said.

West Virginia State Police used the Special Response Team to enter the Munday Road property to make the arrests, the press release said.

Randy and Thomas Hammer were arrested at the property without incident, the press release said. Paul Hammer was arrested sometime later at an unspecified location, the press release said.

Additional details concerning the investigation and a list of official charges had not been released as of Thursday afternoon.